iFixit Guts Apple's New iPad Air

By Jeff Gamet

Nov 1st, 2013 1:22 PM EDT

iFixit has already torn apart the hours-old iPad Air, and what they found inside doesn't come as a surprise. The new 9.7-inch iPad model is packed tight with components, including Apple's 64-bit A7 processor and M7 motion coprocessor, and you shouldn't plan on trying to fix one yourself.

Apple's iPad Air packs a lot into its tiny case

The iPad Air is Apple's replacement for the fourth generation iPad. It keeps the previous model's 9.7-inch Retina Display, but comes in a smaller package that matches the look of the iPad mini. It weighs 1 pound, which is almost a third of a pound less than the previous model, and is thinner and narrower, too.

The new iPad model also includes improved WiFi performance thanks to MIMO technology, built-in stereo speakers, and an improved camera.

iFixit said the iPad Air is glued together, just like previous models, and that makes it difficult to open without causing damage. The display elements are glued together, too, which adds even more repair headaches.

The A7 processor Apple used in the iPad Air is slightly different from the one found in the iPhone 5s. It includes 1GB RAM, and the flash storage for the tablet -- used for storing apps and data -- comes from Toshiba.

The big surprise, or in this case, the slightly smaller surprise, is that the iPad's battery is now smaller. Apple used a three cell 43 WHr battery in the fourth generation iPad, but the iPad Air uses a two cell 32.9 WHr battery configuration. Despite the smaller size Apple was able to keep the battery life in line with the older model, which can ba attributed to the efficiency of the chips used in the Air along with the new energy saving tricks built into iOS 7.

iFixit gave the iPad Air a 2 out of 10 for repairability, with 10 being easier to fix. In other words, try to avoid breaking your new iPad Air because hard to repair.